JEREMIAH O'GRADY

JEREMIAH O'GRADY

Rep. Jeremiah O'Grady says the bill that's been consuming two-thirds of his time is an effort to restore the historic tax credit program is a way that's predictable and sustainable over the long term.

O'Grady, whose district is mainly in Lincoln but includes a Pawtucket neighborhood, says the bill, which hasn't been filed yet, is designed to help the urban core where antique but decaying mill buildings are a drain on the economy but offer great potential for economic development. Values on other buildings restored before the program was dropped in 2008 increased by hundreds of a percent, he says.

O'Grady said shoring up urban centers is important to all Rhode Islanders because the economic difficulties in places like Woonsocket and Pawtucket do "spill over to the suburban communities."

O'Grady says he's also sharply focused on House Bill 5073, a plan to distribute the vehicle registration and renewal fees into highway maintenance and RIPTA support rather than the general fund.

O'Grady said, too, that this week he expected to submit a bill that would create a "Made in Rhode Island" collaborative brand campaign for craftspeople that is similar to the Rhody Fresh label for farmers.

Here's the full list of Grady's bills as of this week:

House No. 5073

Public Utilities

Would include public transit in the Rhode Island highway maintenance fund and accelerate the surcharges that support the fund.

April 11: House Finance scheduled on April 30.

House No. 5220

Registration Non-Renewal

Would allow those who are subject to license or registration non-renewal as a result of failure to pay taxes to obtain a conditional renewal during their period of unemployment.

Jan. 31: Introduced, referred to House Finance.

House No. 5632

Fees for Water Supply

Would eliminate the maximum cap on the fee charged to each applicant submitting an application to the board of certification of operators of public water supply facilities.

Feb. 27: Referred to House Finance.

House No. 5670

Access Public Records

Would exempt individually identifiable evaluations of public school teachers and administrators made pursuant to state or federal law from the definition of public record.

Feb. 27: House Judiciary scheduled hearing on May 7.

House No. 5723

Complaints Against Wireless Carriers

Would permit the division to promulgate rules and regulations designed to provide consumers with a regulatory forum for pursuing complaints and redress against wireless telecommunications carriers related to ing and sales practices and quality of service.

March 13: House Corporations Committee held for further study.

House Resolution No. 5878

EB-5 Regional Center

Would respectfully request the Office of General Treasurer to assess, vet and otherwise investigate the possibility of establishing a statewide EB-5 Visa Regional Center in Rhode Island.